Types of Financial Aid

Listed below are some of the most common forms of aid awarded to students at Kent State University at Trumbull:

GRANTS (Funds that are not repaid)

Federal Pell Grant - Pell Grant eligibility is based on financial need according to a formula that is determined by the Department of Education.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) – The SEOG is a campus-based aid program with limited funding. This grant is intended for undergraduates with exceptional financial need.

Academic Competitiveness Grant - To be eligible, students must be a US citizen and Pell recipient. Completion of rigorous secondary school program will be verified. An Academic Competitiveness Grant provides $750 for the first year of study and $1,300 for the second year.

National SMART Grant - Eligibility and award amount is determined by the Student Financial Aid Office upon confirmation of pursuit of degree in eligible major program of study, grade level status as junior or senior, and minimum cumulative KSU GPA of 3.0. Award amount is based on the student's financial need. Grants will be awarded automatically upon confirmation of eligibility. View list of eligible SMART Grant majors at Kent State.

STUDENT LOANS (Funds that must be repaid)

Federal Direct Loans – All students who meet the federal requirements are eligible for a Direct Loan. The lender for the Direct Loan program is the United States Department of Education.

Federal Direct Subsidized Loan – This loan is based on financial need. The federal government pays the interest and the principle is deferred on the loan as long as you are enrolled at least half-time. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan – This loan is not based on financial need, and you are responsible for the interest while in school. The principle is deferred on the loan as long as you are enrolled at least half-time. Parent PLUS Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) – The PLUS loan is for parents of dependent students who wish to borrow aid to cover the cost of their child’s education.

Federal Perkins Loan or Federal Nursing Loan– This is a campus-based* loan program for both undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. Repayment is made to the school beginning nine months after you graduate, leave school or drop below half-time status.

STUDENT EMPLOYMENT

Federal Work-Study – *This is a campus-based program.* Undergraduate students may be eligible for this program based on financial need. Eligible students work campus jobs and earn a paycheck that can be applied to financial expenses. To be considered for this program, you must choose "work study" for Question 31 of the FAFSA.

CAMPUS-BASED PROGRAMS

These programs are unique in that the federal government gives Kent State University a certain allocation of funds for the programs each academic year. Kent State University then distributes, or awards, these funds to students based on financial need, priority processing of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1, and availability of funds. Eligible students who have their FAFSA processed by the government by March 1 will most likely receive funding for these programs. However, filing on time does not guarantee that a student will receive these funds.